Another CrossFit Games season has come to a close leaving fans of functional fitness with an appetite to witness, cheer on, and experience more feats of human strength, will power, and heroics. Being the only show in town the CrossFit Games has turned into the biggest crossfit spectator event, but this may not be the case for long with the emergence of the National Pro Grid League (NPGL).

Don’t let the name of the NPGL fool you, this is crossfit. The movements are the same, the workouts are the same, and the suffering and glory are the same. The biggest difference is the NPGL is a team only event that captures the magic and undeniable attraction that is a team functional fitness competition.

As the first professional co-ed sport, the NPGL pits teams representing different metropolitan areas against one another over the course of a season in a series of races that feature different lifts and movements across a custom grid to the finish line.

Fast paced, intense, and easy to follow the NPGL has been marketing itself as the premier functional fitness spectator event. Borrowing elements from more established pro sports like a combine and draft, specialized athletes, sideline coaching, and substitutions, athletes will get the most out of their output and performance which can result in down to the wire finishes or huge blowouts.

Many of the biggest and most recognizable names in crossfit have joined NPGL teams, but it looks like strategy and team chemistry will be far more important than star power. It will also be interesting to see if the CrossFit Games and NPGL will be able to coexist or if they will clash.

For more information on the NPGL, and to find out more about the schedule and who’s the closest team to you click here.